Guide to IB CAS at North Star for the Class of 2015
Krista Oberlindacher, CAS Coordinator
Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) defined
The CAS component is at the heart of the IB Diploma Program. It consists of three
strands.
Creativity:
arts, design of the project, activities, music, and other
experiences that involve creative thinking.
Action:
physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle,
including team and individual sports, expeditions, local and
international projects.
Service:
unpaid, voluntary exchanges that have a learning benefit
for the student during which the rights, dignity and
autonomy of all those involved are respected, which may
include working with children, refugees, the homeless, or
other social or community service.
CAS enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development through
experiential learning. It also provides an important counterbalance to the academic
pressures of the rest of the Diploma Program. A good CAS program should be
challenging and enjoyable, a personal journey of discovery. CAS activities should
continue regularly for as long as possible throughout the Diploma Program. All proposed
CAS activities need to follow the following criteria.
Real, purposeful activities with significant outcomes.
Personal challenges with task that extend students, but are achievable.
Thoughtful consideration with planning, reviewing and reporting.
Reflection on outcomes and personal learning.
CAS learning outcomes
In the CAS reflections, there should be evidence that students have:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth.
Undertaken new challenges.
Planned and initiated activities.
Worked collaboratively with others. At least one project must involve
collaboration and integrate at least two of the three components
(creativity, action, service).
Showed perseverance and commitment in their activities.
Engaged with issues of global importance.
Considered the ethical implications of their actions.
Developed new skills.
Ultimately, all eight learning outcomes must be demonstrated although not necessarily
in each CAS activity.
Student responsibilities
Students are required to do all of the following:
1)
2)
3)
Communicate and meet with their CAS mentor throughout the CAS
project to discuss plans and progress. Follow the CAS Schedule.
Self-review at the beginning of the CAS experience and set personal goals
for what they hope to achieve. Complete and turn in the Initial CAS
Project Outline.
Keep records of their CAS activities and achievements including a CAS
Log covering the 150 CAS hours and evidence of achieving all eight CAS
learning outcomes as contained in their CAS reflections materials.
CAS reflections materials
Students should document all their CAS activities, noting in particular their reflections
about the experiences. This documentation may take many forms, including web logs,
illustrated displays and videos, as well as written notes (e.g., a journal). Its extent should
match the significance of the particular activity. Don’t write lengthy accounts about
routine experiences.
As students reflect, they should consider the following questions.
How did I feel?
What did I perceive?
What did the activity mean to me?
What was the value of the activity?
What did I learn from the activity and how did this learning perhaps
change my perspective?
Concerning my service activities, what obligations did I have to those
being served and how did my service impact them and me?
To help keep track of hours, students are encouraged to use the log form provided by the
CAS coordinator or to create a similar form. A CAS log is required as part of the
documents as are the CAS reflections materials.
CAS is to be completed by May 1, 2015.
Good luck. Learn a lot. Have fun! 
CAS Schedule
Class of 2015
Name of Student
________________________________________
Name of CAS Mentor ________________________________________
Students shall meet with their CAS Mentors during the times listed on the following
schedule. Students should discuss with their CAS Mentors their goals, objectives and
processes of their CAS Projects. Students and CAS Mentors should be mindful that
learning benefits and growth experiences should be taking place for the students.
Students must turn this form in to the CAS Coordinator, Room 310, after each
required meeting with their CAS Mentors. This form then will be returned to the
student by the CAS Coordinator
Date
Meeting Purpose/Comments by CAS Mentor
Initialed by
Student/CAS Mentor
2013 Discuss & complete Initial CAS Project Outline.
______
______
Nov/Dec Students submit this to CAS Coordinator.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2014 Discuss CAS reflection materials, CAS Log and
______
______
April Preliminary CAS Reflection Form.
Students submit these to CAS Coordinator.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2014 Discuss progress on CAS Project – should be at least
______
______
Oct
50% completed by now.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2015 Discuss progress on CAS Project – should be at least
______
______
Jan
75% completed by now.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2015 Discuss CAS reflection materials, CAS Log and
______
______
April/ CAS Reflection Form. CAS Project should be
May
100% completed by now. Students submit these
to CAS Coordinator.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Initial CAS Project Outline
Class of 2015
Name of Student
_________________________________________
This form must be completed and turned in by the student to the CAS Coordinator,
Room 413, by Friday, December 7, 2013. CAS Mentors should make a photocopy of
this form for their records. Original form will be returned to student by CAS
Coordinator.
CAS Project details
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Outcome goals of this project
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Things that will be a challenge with this project
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Plan for successfully completing this project
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Signature of CAS Mentor
____________________________________
CAS Log
Class of 2015
Name of Student
________________________________________
For each CAS activity indicate the type of reflection materials being created, hours and
dates performed and (by check mark) which CAS areas the activity meets. Attach
evidence (e.g., signed statements by adult supervisors) that each of the CAS activities
were performed.
This log is due (covering at least 150 hours) and submitted to the CAS Coordinator,
Room 310, with CAS reflection materials by May 1, 2015.
Hours and dates
CAS activity
Type of reflection materials
C A S
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __
Preliminary CAS Reflection Form
Class of 2015
Name of Student
________________________________________
Students should complete this form, discuss it with their CAS Mentor and submit it to
the CAS Coordinator, Room 310, by April 17, 2015.
By the end of the CAS Project, all of these learning outcomes must have been attempted
or achieved.
Learning outcomes
Achieved?
Increased their awareness of their
own strengths and areas for growth
_______
Undertaken new challenges
_______
Planned and initiated activities
_______
Worked collaboratively with others
_______
Shown perseverance and commitment
in their activities
_______
In reflection materials,
Where is this shown?
Engaged with issues of global importance _______
Considered the ethical implications
of their actions
_______
Developed new skills
_______
Initiated a project with at least two
(creativity, action, service)
_______
Signature of CAS Mentor
____________________________________
CAS Reflection Form
Class of 2015
Name of Student
________________________________________
Students should complete this form, discuss it with their CAS Mentor and submit it to
the CAS Coordinator, Room 310, by May 1, 2015.
By the end of the CAS Project, all of these learning outcomes must have been attempted
or achieved.
Learning outcomes
Achieved?
Increased their awareness of their
own strengths and areas for growth
_______
Undertaken new challenges
_______
Planned and initiated activities
_______
Worked collaboratively with others
_______
Shown perseverance and commitment
in their activities
_______
In reflection materials,
Where is this shown?
Engaged with issues of global importance _______
Considered the ethical implications
of their actions
_______
Developed new skills
_______
Initiated a project with at least two
(creativity, action, service)
_______
Signature of CAS Mentor
____________________________________